Endangered toll projects have cost state $53 million

Published: Monday, April 8, 2013 at 11:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 8, 2013 at 11:30 a.m.

Sen. Bill Rabon's plan to strip Wilmington's Cape Fear Skyway and two other proposed turnpike projects of their special designation in state law would all but ensure their demise as currently blueprinted. But the state has already spent about $53.7 million in taxpayer dollars planning the three projects.

So what becomes of the money? Chalk it up as an unfortunate loss?

Rabon, R-Brunswick, says he's pushing good policy – taking politics out of highway selection – and the "lost" money is not his primary concern. Actual construction for the projects would climb upwards of $2.5 billion dollars.

‘Money has been lost'

"I think it was, how do you say this politically correct, I think it was (long pause), my best comment is, I didn't spend it."

"That money has been lost," he continued. "It was poor judgment yesterday, but we can't blame folks yesterday for what they did. This is today. We're moving forward."

To Rabon, moving forward means these three specially designated, proposed toll road projects should compete with all other road projects in the Department of Transportation's data-driven methodology and equity formula for doling out transportation dollars.

Of the three projects, the Cape Fear Skyway was the most unlikely, the furthest behind in planning, and accounts for the smallest amount in pre-build expenditures. But the roughly $5.7 million spent on studying the feasibility of a toll road in Wilmington – even in government terms – isn't exactly loose change. It is, however, "a very, very small percentage" of the overall proposed project's costs, notes DOT spokeswoman Nicole Meister.

Of the other two projects in question, the state has spent $26 million on planning the Mid-Currituck Bridge, a proposed 7-mile, two-lane, public-private partnership toll bridge across Currituck Sound near southeastern Virginia; and $21 million on Garden Parkway, a planned 21.9-mile toll road west of Gastonia to Interstate 485 near the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

These expenditures are through March and were provided by DOT in response to a request by the StarNews.

Political accusations abound

The Turnpike Authority was created in 2002 to supplement state funds with tolls for mega projects – those over $500 million.

Powerful Democratic politicians of years past earmarked the projects for placement in the Turnpike Authority when that party reigned, though the proposed toll roads have enjoyed bipartisan support. One champion of Cape Fear Skyway was former New Hanover Republican state Rep. Danny McComas, now chairman of the State Ports Authority's board. But the project has never received a state commitment for gap funding, which is the difference between what the project costs and what it takes to finance it. The other two have.

David Joyner, the authority's executive director from 2005 until stepping down in January, said it would a "terrible waste of money" to stop the projects at this point.

"These are three very expensive projects, and they cost a lot of money to do the preliminary engineering and environmental reviews," he said. "The Legislature, since I was there, said, ‘Go build the projects' and in fact said, ‘Hurry up.' And now they want to say, ‘No, don't build them, stop it.' I don't understand it unless it is political."

Rabon doesn't advocate killing the projects per se; rather he argues their placement in state statute was a politically motivated policy that should be tossed. But these projects are not likely to stand a chance in the regular competition for funding, according to those familiar with DOT's ranking procedures. That notion seems to be backed up by previous DOT rankings of the projects. For example, the Cape Fear Skyway ranked 31 of 35 projects when previously reviewed by what's known as DOT's Urban Loop Prioritization Process.

But things can change, Meister said.

"They may not rank right now, but that doesn't mean in five years they wouldn't rank," she said.

The $53.7 million in planning dollars spent wouldn't necessarily go to waste because the work could be freshened up if the projects are funded through other means in future years.

Not a done deal

Rabon's proposal is not a done deal. It's been several weeks since he successfully tacked an amendment to a bill originating in the House that would greenlight a study of the Triangle Expressway Garner extension. The study is required by the federal government to move forward with completion of that Wake County loop project – even though transportation officials don't intend to build the so-called "red route." But Rabon's broad policy change is now riding on that technical measure, which is of great importance to Wake County lawmakers.

House Speaker Pro Tempore Paul Stam said he's not so much frustrated by Rabon's policy view as his vehicle for pushing it.

"Whatever the merits of his amendment, I wish he had not used it to impede the progress of a billion-dollar construction project," said Stam, R-Wake.

Rabon last week introduced a new Senate bill to achieve the same goal. And while detractors summed up Rabon's efforts as politics by another name, DOT Secretary Tony Tata endorsed Rabon's proposal in a recent letter to legislative leaders.

Don Voelker is DOT's director of strategic planning in the office of transportation, nicknamed SPOT. He describes the state's complicated road-ranking systems with wonkish enthusiasm. All the details, he said, would "blow your mind." He called Rabon a great friend of data-driven DOT policy that considers such things as congestion, pavement condition, and safety but steers clear of politics.

Voelker pointed out that the proposed Cape Fear Skyway is in Rabon's area.

"That project would not be a high-scoring project and he knows that, and yet he is one that says, ‘Let the data drive that project. If the data says that's not a high-scoring project then maybe we shouldn't be building that,'" Voelker said.

<p>Sen. Bill Rabon's plan to strip Wilmington's <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic28"><b>Cape Fear Skyway</b></a> and two other proposed turnpike projects of their special designation in state law would all but ensure their demise as currently blueprinted. But the state has already spent about $53.7 million in taxpayer dollars planning the three projects.</p><p>So what becomes of the money? Chalk it up as an unfortunate loss?</p><p>Rabon, R-Brunswick, says he's pushing good policy – taking politics out of highway selection – and the "lost" money is not his primary concern. Actual construction for the projects would climb upwards of $2.5 billion dollars. </p><p><b>'Money has been lost' </b></p><p>"I think it was, how do you say this politically correct, I think it was (long pause), my best comment is, I didn't spend it." </p><p>"That money has been lost," he continued. "It was poor judgment yesterday, but we can't blame folks yesterday for what they did. This is today. We're moving forward." </p><p>To Rabon, moving forward means these three specially designated, proposed toll road projects should compete with all other road projects in the Department of Transportation's data-driven methodology and equity formula for doling out transportation dollars.</p><p>Of the three projects, the Cape Fear Skyway was the most unlikely, the furthest behind in planning, and accounts for the smallest amount in pre-build expenditures. But the roughly $5.7 million spent on studying the feasibility of a toll road in Wilmington – even in government terms – isn't exactly loose change. It is, however, "a very, very small percentage" of the overall proposed project's costs, notes DOT spokeswoman Nicole Meister. </p><p>Of the other two projects in question, the state has spent $26 million on planning the Mid-Currituck Bridge, a proposed 7-mile, two-lane, public-private partnership toll bridge across Currituck Sound near southeastern Virginia; and $21 million on Garden Parkway, a planned 21.9-mile toll road west of Gastonia to Interstate 485 near the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.</p><p>These expenditures are through March and were provided by DOT in response to a request by the StarNews. </p><p><b>Political accusations abound </b></p><p>The Turnpike Authority was created in 2002 to supplement state funds with tolls for mega projects – those over $500 million. </p><p>Powerful Democratic politicians of years past earmarked the projects for placement in the Turnpike Authority when that party reigned, though the proposed toll roads have enjoyed bipartisan support. One champion of Cape Fear Skyway was former New Hanover Republican state Rep. Danny McComas, now chairman of the State Ports Authority's board. But the project has never received a state commitment for gap funding, which is the difference between what the project costs and what it takes to finance it. The other two have. </p><p>David Joyner, the authority's executive director from 2005 until stepping down in January, said it would a "terrible waste of money" to stop the projects at this point. </p><p>"These are three very expensive projects, and they cost a lot of money to do the preliminary engineering and environmental reviews," he said. "The Legislature, since I was there, said, 'Go build the projects' and in fact said, 'Hurry up.' And now they want to say, 'No, don't build them, stop it.' I don't understand it unless it is political." </p><p>Rabon doesn't advocate killing the projects per se; rather he argues their placement in state statute was a politically motivated policy that should be tossed. But these projects are not likely to stand a chance in the regular competition for funding, according to those familiar with DOT's ranking procedures. That notion seems to be backed up by previous DOT rankings of the projects. For example, the Cape Fear Skyway ranked 31 of 35 projects when previously reviewed by what's known as DOT's Urban Loop Prioritization Process. </p><p>But things can change, Meister said. </p><p>"They may not rank right now, but that doesn't mean in five years they wouldn't rank," she said. </p><p>The $53.7 million in planning dollars spent wouldn't necessarily go to waste because the work could be freshened up if the projects are funded through other means in future years. </p><p><b>Not a done deal </b></p><p>Rabon's proposal is not a done deal. It's been several weeks since he successfully tacked an amendment to a bill originating in the House that would greenlight a study of the Triangle Expressway Garner extension. The study is required by the federal government to move forward with completion of that Wake County loop project – even though transportation officials don't intend to build the so-called "red route." But Rabon's broad policy change is now riding on that technical measure, which is of great importance to Wake County lawmakers. </p><p>House Speaker Pro Tempore Paul Stam said he's not so much frustrated by Rabon's policy view as his vehicle for pushing it. </p><p>"Whatever the merits of his amendment, I wish he had not used it to impede the progress of a billion-dollar construction project," said Stam, R-Wake. </p><p>Rabon last week introduced a new Senate bill to achieve the same goal. And while detractors summed up Rabon's efforts as politics by another name, DOT Secretary Tony Tata endorsed Rabon's proposal in a recent letter to legislative leaders.</p><p>Don Voelker is DOT's director of strategic planning in the office of transportation, nicknamed SPOT. He describes the state's complicated road-ranking systems with wonkish enthusiasm. All the details, he said, would "blow your mind." He called Rabon a great friend of data-driven DOT policy that considers such things as congestion, pavement condition, and safety but steers clear of politics. </p><p>Voelker pointed out that the proposed Cape Fear Skyway is in Rabon's area. </p><p>"That project would not be a high-scoring project and he knows that, and yet he is one that says, 'Let the data drive that project. If the data says that's not a high-scoring project then maybe we shouldn't be building that,'" Voelker said. </p><p>Metro desk: 343-2389</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @StarNewsMolly</p>